MedWest-Haywood should have a new president and chief executive officer named within the next six to eight weeks.

John Young, the interim CEO and regional vice president for Carolinas HealthCare system, said there is a lot of interest in the post. A search firm is narrowing the field of candidates down to 10, and Carolinas, which is the management entity for MedWest, will narrow that list down to three.

"At that point, there will be an exhaustive process where the candidates meet local officals, the medical staff and community members," Young said.

Once a new president is names, it will take a month or two before the successful candidate starts, he said.

"It can't be soon enough for me," said Young, who has been driving to Haywood from Charlotte on a regular basis to fill in after Michael ...